Adjustable means for catching slugs in threads



H. c. BACON 1,743,650

ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR CATCHING SLUGS IN THREADS I Jan. 14, 1930.

Filed March 15, 1929 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY C. BACON, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY C. SMITH COIMPANY, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF HENRY C. BACON AND JOHN R. LOOMIS ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR CATCHING SLUGS IN THREADS Application filed March 15, 1929. Serial No. 347,322.

Silk threads, raw and finished, are liable to at intervals have slugs, that is, enlarged or uneven imperfections, which if wove-n or knitted into the fabric or article being made produce blemishes which eifect the value of the product, consequently it is desirable to catch the slugs and stop the feed of the threads to the textile machinery, as'they apear. p This invention relates to means adapted to be located between reel and bobbin, bobbin and loom or knitting machine, or in fact any place in relation to silk fabricating machinery where slugs are liable to appear, for catching such slugs and interrupting the feed of the threads until they may be inspected and the slugs removed.

The object of the invention is to provide a slug catcher which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and put in place of use, which is quickly threaded, which is easily adjustable for threads of any size, and which when adjusted will remain in the desired condition and will not get out of shape.

In attaining this end the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a bed block that is adapted to be fastened to the part of the machine with which it is to be used, on which block are a pair of rigid finger plates so spaced that there is an open thread slot between them, the fingers being adj ustably mounted on the block in order that the width of the slot may be increased or diminished according to the size of the thread with which the device is to be used.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a top view of a preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation. Fig. 3 shows a front elevation. Fig. 4 shows a key that may be used for adjusting the width of the thread slot.

The bed block 1 which is illustrated has an opening 2 for the passage of the bolt or screw by means of which the device is fastened to the machine part. 'In the front face of the bed block is a vertical mortise in which a finger plate 3 is held in fixed position by a screw 4. In the same face of the bed block is an oblique mortise in which is located the angular end 5 of a finger plate 6. The angu lar end of this finger plate 6 has an inclined slot 7 through which passes a screw 8. When the screw 8 is loosened this finger plate may be moved up and down and owing to the oblique mortise and angular end by such movement the width of the slot 9 between the finger plates may be regulated. After the slot adjustment is made the screw 8 is tightened so as to hold the finger plate in place with the slot of the required width to permit the passage of the thread 10 but catch any slug 11 which appears and stop the feed of the thread until the slug is removed.

For the purpose of setting the adjustable finger plate 6 a key 12 may be provided, which key may have a pin 13 that fits into a hole 14 drilled in the bed block, and a bit 15 which is adaptedto engage in a notch 16 in the edge of the finger plate. By means of this key when the screw 8 is loosened the adjustable finger may be set so thatthe slot between the finger plates is of the required width. The upper ends of the finger plates are beveled toward the slot, which is open at the top, so as to permit the quick passing of the thread into or out of the slot between the finger plates.

This device consists of a very few parts, it is easily attached in the desired locality, and the width of the slot through which the thread is passed can be finely adjusted by means of the key, and when adjusted is held until it is necessary to change the adjustment for a thread of a different size.

The invention claimed is:

A slug catcher comprising a bed block adapted to be fastened in place of use, said block having a perpendicular mortise and an oblique mortise with a socket adjacent to the outside edge of the oblique mortise, a finger plate with an end fixed in said per- 

